Box Hockey for students with and without intellectual disabilities

This is an excerpt from Build It So They Can Play by Teresa Sullivan, Cindy Slagle, T.J. Hapshie, Debbie Brevard, and Vic Brevard.

Box Hockey

Need and Disability

This is a game for students with and without intellectual disabilities. Game strategies and competition come into play with the higher-level students. In students of lower skill levels, eye–hand coordination and upper-body strength are developed. For those of any skill level, the game combines teamwork with friendly competition.

Tools

Hand saw or electric saw, hammer, tape measure

Supplies

3 boards 1 inch by 6 inches by 8 feet

Box of 2-inch nails

2 1-inch dowel rods

1 nut (used as a puck—choose whatever size works best for your students, or get nuts in several sizes)

Instructions

1. Cut boards into two 4-foot lengths and four 3-foot lengths.

2. Cut half circle for goals on two of the 3-foot-long boards. You can use a 1-gallon paint can or coffee can as a template. Assemble as shown in the diagram.

3. Cut half circles in the two remaining 3-foot boards as shown in the diagram.

4. Hammer nails from the outside of frame to the two 4-foot-long boards aligning the 3-foot-long boards. Players can use dowel rods to hit the nut.

Ideas for Using This Equipment

Position one student on each side of box hockey frame with a dowel rod. Place the nut in the middle. Students hit the nut at the same time, trying to score a goal in end goals.

Modifications

Rather than a nut, use a slightly bigger object that might roll to assist with movement around the board (e.g., soda bottle cap, miniature plastic hockey puck).